Time to don the fireproof underwear. It is 0500 and the reality alarm clock is ringing, and some people do not like to hear it go off. So whether you agree with me or not, I feel it is time to inject a little thought provoking ideas into your life.
I am sure I am about to get flamed for posting this, but I feel the need to anyways. I have been seeing these threads talking about bullying and teachers or preceptors hating the students, and new nurses or abusing them because of some perceived slight or injustice. Well guess what?
The world is a hard cold nasty place that does not need to be polite to you or worry whether your feelings got hurt and you feel offended. You need to grow up and realize that the abuse that you claim is rampant, or the bullying that you experience all the time is not their problem, but rather your problem.
I see so many posts about this and I wonder how some of these people have survived as long as they have. School is tough? Deal with it. You think that someone else is getting it easier? Well too bad, they may be but no one ever promised you everything would be fair. You have to learn that there is inequality in life. It's how you overcome that inequality that matters. It teaches perseverance.
Abusive teachers? Maybe they are trying to get the best in you to come out. What you think is abuse maybe is pushing you to your limits, to get you further along in your potential. So your feelings got hurt at school, grow up, feelings get hurt every day.
Your preceptor is unorganized and does not like you and bad mouths you to your manager, and all your patients love you but no one at the hospital sees how great you really are?
Well your preceptor may actually have great time management skill, but when having to slow down and teach someone their job, things do tend to get disorganized. You may be part of the blame there.
Did you ever stop to think that you are the proverbial monkey wrench in a well oiled machine? The need to teach you, and I realize you do need to learn, can be very time consuming. They may tell your manager that you need improving or that you are not advancing fast enough. They may be all smiles to you, because they want to support you and keep you positive, but they need to tell the manager how you really are.
Speaking of orientation, how often have I seen statements that say the other nurses are not supportive and will not answer questions. Have you ever thought that maybe you are asking TOO MANY questions?
After a bit it may seem that you are not retaining the info provided and everyone gets tired of answering the same questions over and over. Part of learning is knowing when to shut your mouth and just watch. It has been said by people wiser than me that the only question you should ask is the question that you already know the answer to. If that does not make sense to you, think about it for a while and you might just be surprised that a light comes on.
So basically what i am saying is grow up and act like the adult that you are. Life is not fair, school is not fair, work is not fair. You just have to learn to deal with it.
I'm quite sure that if you told your manager that you either did not want or did not feel fit for precepting, nearly every manager would avoid pairing an orientee with that person at all costs, for the sake of the orientee especially.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I'm quite sure that if you told your manager that you either did not want or did not feel fit for precepting, nearly every manager would avoid pairing an orientee with that person at all costs, for the sake of the orientee especially.
I'm quite sure that if you told your manager that you either did not want or did not feel fit for precepting, nearly every manager would avoid pairing an orientee with that person at all costs, for the sake of the orientee especially.
Nope. I said that in October to my manager. Very professionally, I might add. I thought it went well, actually, never heard another word about it. But then… Guess what showed up on March’s evaluation this year? “EasterRN refused a growth opportunity”. And that took me from “Met All Expectations” to “Did Not Meet All Expectations”. And with that, there went my raise. Been at this particular job nearly a decade, with every previous eval being “Exceeded All Expectations”. That one professional decline, to perform a task I know is not my forte, cost me. Do I want to start searching for a new job? No, not at this stage of the game.
They hired a new nurse last Wednesday. Guess what I get to start doing tomorrow?
Time to put on my Big Girl Britches and forge ahead. It won't show, because I'm a professional, and it's not the new girl's fault that they picked the wrong person. I just feel bad for her when I know there are others in my dept that actually excel at this (like the one who precepted me). I'll give her everything I got.
how often have I seen statements that say the other nurses are not supportive and will not answer questions. Have you ever thought that maybe you are asking TOO MANY questions? After a bit it may seem that you are not retaining the info provided and everyone gets tired of answering the same questions over and over.
I find that people really only get steamed when you ask a question that you could answer for yourself if you just took 3 seconds to do so. Don't ask questions because you are too lazy to look it up.
No, and if it doesn't hold true for you. I suggest finding a new job. It seems all these complaints are coming primarily from people who mention they are in a situation where you can't refuse precepting, which signifies to me that once again, these people shouldn't be precepting. You're blaming orientees for being babies when you're really just working in a craphole, it sounds like.
I've worked in different hospitals and each manager I've had would never have had people precepting who they didn't think were adequate and wanted to do it.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
No, and if it doesn't hold true for you. I suggest finding a new job. It seems all these complaints are coming primarily from people who mention they are in a situation where you can't refuse precepting, which signifies to me that once again, these people shouldn't be precepting. You're blaming orientees for being babies when you're really just working in a craphole, it sounds like.
I've worked in different hospitals and each manager I've had would never have had people precepting who they didn't think were adequate and wanted to do it.
Please come back to this thread after you've been a nurse for a few years and tell us what you've learned.
Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.
Asking questions needs to be encouraged not discouraged, that's how fatal errors can occur. Would you rather answer a dumb question or put a patients life at risk? I answer questions to facilitate learning and keep patients safe. If someone asks you a question multiple times and you are getting annoyed you could take that person aside and tell them that a notebook might be helpful to write questions and answers down so that they remember the answers and won't have to ask the same question twice and they will retain the information. Or you could direct the person to resources, policy and procedures, manual of nursing practice, etc....The purpose of orientation is successful training and developing strong clinical skills, not hazing.
It's true about the unfairness of life, but that doesn't mean you have to keep your head down and take crap from hostile coworkers. If a person is being bullied at work or if they don't like the way someone said something or what ever the conflict issue is, use your communication skills to get to the bottom of it. There is a great book called non violent communication and it is really great at developing skills to connect with others. I do think that sometimes it's a communication issue that can be resolved by talking to the person. If someone is really bullying you, use communication to expose them. It's like holding a mirror up and they might not like what they see: a bitter mean spirited person that deep down inside dislikes their own self and projects that self hate on everyone else. You don't have to tolerate that bs and if you are brave enough to take it up the chain of command, first confronting the person directly, etc..., the bully might find themselves out of a job. I think more facilities are realizing that hostile work environments are costing them money by high staff turnover. Don't let some bitter unhappy person cheat you out of a rewarding career.
Not all work environments are hostile and some units have a good team spirit that thrives on collaboration. Find a work environment like that or take steps to change your own work environment. New nurses on orientation should keep a notebook and write things down and know how to find answers in addition to asking questions. Pharmacy can answer med questions, there is usually a manual of nursing practice on the unit, and always know where to find policy and procedures. Don't be afraid to ask questions and also know where to find additional information. Don't be afraid to ask physicians, you might be surprised that they will be more than happy to explain things. They might even like explaining something. Keep a positive attitude, yeah life is unfair, but life can also be an amazing journey that brings joy and happiness to each day!
Please come back to this thread after you've been a nurse for a few years and tell us what you've learned.
I have. I've been precepted and I have precepted people. You may want to excuse yourself from the thread's conversation until you are further versed in the practice of orienting others. Some re-education may help also. Thanks for stopping by.
I have. I've been precepted and I have precepted people. You may want to excuse yourself from the thread's conversation until you are further versed in the practice of orienting others. Some re-education may help also. Thanks for stopping by.
Hmm, are you the same RNdynamic that made this comment: " It's always fairly ignorant, undereducated former waitresses former CNAs, former babysitters, with a kid out of wedlock, who go to "get their RN" at CCs and never have any interest in furthering their education again, who act like bullies we encounter. They lived a life of being low class and getting pushed around. They become nurses and then think it's their turn."? If so that was not very "orienting to others" either.
Nope. I said that in October to my manager. Very professionally, I might add. I thought it went well, actually, never heard another word about it. But then... Guess what showed up on March's evaluation this year? "EasterRN refused a growth opportunity". And that took me from "Met All Expectations" to "Did Not Meet All Expectations". And with that, there went my raise. Been at this particular job nearly a decade, with every previous eval being "Exceeded All Expectations". That one professional decline, to perform a task I know is not my forte, cost me. Do I want to start searching for a new job? No, not at this stage of the game.
They hired a new nurse last Wednesday. Guess what I get to start doing tomorrow?
Time to put on my Big Girl Britches and forge ahead. It won't show, because I'm a professional, and it's not the new girl's fault that they picked the wrong person. I just feel bad for her when I know there are others in my dept that actually excel at this (like the one who precepted me). I'll give her everything I got.
All the best to you. Like you say, you are a professional and prepared to give your best shot. I think you should have choices, options, etc. with what you need to do to "meet expectations." I am sorry that your manager/facility insist on putting you where you don't want to be. I hope it goes well for you.
Yes, after looking at your last post I guess I see what you mean. You were referring to precepting, I thought you meant "orienting" in the sense of being considerate of people. Sorry I took the last post out of context.
wooh, BSN, RN
1 Article; 4,383 Posts
Bahahahaha!!!! You're kidding, right?